Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           Thensaidhetotheknights,“Ihavejustseenaknightwhowillfightfullwellatthejousttowardwhichwego.”

           “Whoisit?”askedthey.

           “Asyetyeshallnotknow,”heansweredsmiling.

           WhenSirLancelotwasinhischamberunarming,theoldbaroncametohimsalutinghim,thoughasyetheknewnotwhohewas.

           NowSirBernardhadadaughterpassingbeautiful,calledtheFairMaidofAstolat,andwhenshesawSirLancelotshelovedhimfromthatinstantwithherwholeheart,andcouldnotstayfromgazingonhim.

           Onthemorrow,SirLancelotaskedtheoldbarontolendhimastrangeshield.“For,”saidhe,“Iwouldbeunknown.”

           “Sir,”saidhishost,“yeshallhaveyourdesire,forhereistheshieldofmyeldestson,SirTorre,whowashurtthedayhewasmadeknight,sothathecannotride;andhisshield,therefore,isnotknown.And,ifitpleaseyou,myyoungestson,SirLavaine,shallridewithyoutothejousts,forheisofhisagefullstrongandmighty;andIdeemyebeanobleknight,whereforeIprayyetellmeyourname.”

           “Astothat,”saidSirLancelot,“yemustholdmeexcusedatthistime,butifIspeedwellatthejousts,Iwillcomeagainandtellyou;butinanywiseletmehaveyourson,SirLavaine,withme,andlendmehisbrother’sshield.”

           Then,eretheydeparted,cameElaine,thebaron’sdaughter,andsaidtoSirLancelot,“Ipraythee,gentleknight,towearmytokenatto-morrow’stourney.”

           “IfIshouldgrantyouthat,fairdamsel,”saidhe,“yemightsaythatIdidmoreforyouthaneverIhavedoneforladyordamsel.